Touch sensor integrated display device

ABSTRACT

A touch sensor integrated display device is provided comprising gate lines and data lines formed on a substrate to be intersected with each other, a plurality of pixel electrodes formed at intersections between the gate lines and the data lines, and a common electrode formed to overlap the plurality of pixel electrodes through an insulating film disposed between the common electrode and the plurality of pixel electrodes, wherein the common electrode includes at least two touch electrodes, each of which is connected to at least one of signal lines arranged in one of a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction.

This application is a Continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/847,118, filed Apr. 13, 2020, which is a Continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/202,024, filed on Nov. 27, 2018, nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,649,575, which is a Continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/157,305 filed on May 17, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No.10,180,750, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/981,550 filed on Dec. 28, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,639,205, which isa Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/337,390 filed onDec. 27, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,250,735, which claims the benefit ofKorean Patent Application Nos. 10-2011-0017181 filed on Feb. 25, 2011and 10-2011-0077644 filed on Aug. 4, 2011. All of the above-identifiedU.S. and Korean Patent Applications are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

This document relates to a display device, and more specifically to atouch sensor integrated display device.

2. Related Art

A touch sensor is a kind of input unit which is mounted on a videodisplay device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emissiondisplay (FED), a plasma display panel (PDP), an electroluminescencedevice (ELD), electrophoresis display (EPD), and so forth. While animage is displayed by the video display device, a user may contact, bypressing or touching, a touch panel on the video display device to inputpredetermined optional information through the touch sensor mounted inthe video display device.

Touch sensors used for display devices as described above may be largelydivided into an add-on type, an on-cell type, and an integrated type,according to structures thereof. In the case of an add-on type touchsensor, after a display device and the touch sensor have beenmanufactured in separate processes, respectively, the manufactured touchsensor is attached on the top plate of the display device. In the caseof an on-cell type touch sensor, component parts constituting the touchsensor are directly formed on a surface of a top glass substrate on adisplay device. In the case of an integrated type touch sensor, thetouch sensor is built in a display device to attain a thinner displaydevice and improve durability.

The add-on type touch sensors, however, have some disadvantages in thatdisplay devices having the touch sensors become thick because the touchsensors are disposed on the display devices in the form ofcompletely-finished products and in that the brightness of the displaydevices tend to be lowered, which deteriorates Visibility of the displaydevices. Further, display devices having the on-cell type touch sensorsare relatively thinner than display devices having the add-on type touchsensors because separate touch sensors are formed on top surface of thedisplay device. The display devices having the on-cell type touchsensors, however, have some disadvantages in that the entire thicknessof the display devices becomes thicker and in that not only the numberof processes but also manufacturing costs of the display devices arerelatively higher because of driving electrode layers and sensingelectrode layers constituting the touch sensors, and insulating filmsfor insulating those electrode layers.

On the other hand, the integrated type touch sensors have someadvantages in that they can realize substantially thinner displaydevices and improve durability, and thus, overcome the disadvantages ofthe display devices having the add-on type and the on-cell type touchsensors. Integrated type touch sensors include optical types,electrostatic capacity types, and so forth.

In the case of the optical type touch sensors, an optical sensing layeris formed on thin transistor substrate arrays of a display device. Anobject touching the optical sensing layer can be recognized throughlight reflected on the object by using light from a back light unit orinfrared ray light. The optical type touch sensors can be normally andsafely operated under dark surroundings, and surrounding light can actas a noise when the surrounding light is brighter than the reflectedlight from the object. For example, light reflected from the object hasvery low brightness so that even under slightly bright surroundings,touch recognition errors can occur. Especially, under very bright sunlight, touch recognition by the optical type touch sensor may notoperate normally.

The electrostatic capacity type touch sensors include a self capacitancetype and a mutual capacitance type. In the case of the mutualcapacitance type, a common electrode for display is divided into adriving electrode area and a sensing electrode area, and a mutualcapacitance is formed between the driving electrode area and the sendingelectrode area so that a variation in mutual capacitance generated ontouching can be measured to recognize the touching operation based onthe measured values.

The mutual capacitance type touch sensors, however, have somedisadvantages in that it is difficult to exactly recognize touched spotsbecause the mutual capacitance generated on touching recognition is verysmall while parasitic capacitance between gate lines and data lines isrelatively very large. The gate lines and the data lines areconstitutional elements of the display device.

Furthermore, the mutual capacitance type touch sensors require verycomplex circuit wiring structures because many touch driving lines fortouch driving and many touch sensing lines for touch sensing should beformed on the common electrode to obtain multi-touch recognition.

Accordingly, there exists a demand for a new type of touch sensorintegrated display device for solving the problems of theabove-mentioned prior art touch sensors.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of the present invention provide a touch sensorintegrated display device wherein touch sensing elements for recognizinga touch can be also used as constituent elements of the display device,thus resulting in a reduced thickness of the display device and improveddurability, and a touch sensor integrated display device wherein signallines for recognizing a touch and data lines overlap each other to thusimprove an aperture ratio of the display device.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a touch sensorintegrated display device in which touch sensing elements forrecognizing a touch are also used as components of the display device,thus reducing thickness and enhancing durability of the display device.An embodiment of the present invention provides a touch sensorintegrated display device in which signal lines for recognizing a touchoverlap data lines, thus enhancing an aperture ratio.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided atouch sensor integrated display device including gate lines and dataline formed to cross each other on a substrate, a plurality of pixelelectrodes formed at intersections of the gate lines and the data lines,and a common electrode formed to overlap the plurality of pixelelectrodes with an insulating film interposed between the commonelectrode and the pixel electrodes, wherein the common electrodeincludes two or more touch electrodes, and each of the touch electrodesis connected with at least one of signal lines arranged in any one of afirst direction and a second direction perpendicular to the firstdirection.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided atouch sensor integrated display device including gate lines formed on asubstrate, signal lines formed to be spaced apart from the gate linesand parallel to the gate lines, a gate insulating film formed on asurface of the substrate on which the gate lines and the signal linesare formed, data lines formed on the gate insulating film and crossingthe gate lines, a thin film transistor (TFT) formed on the gateinsulating film and having a source electrode connected with the dataline, a pixel electrode formed on the gate insulating film and connectedwith a drain electrode of the TFT, an interlayer insulating film formedon the gate insulating film on which the data line, the TFT and thepixel electrode have been formed, and formed at an intersection of thegate line and the data line, and a common electrode formed on theinterlayer insulating film and connected with the signal lines throughcontact holes formed in the interlayer insulating film, wherein thecommon electrode includes two or more touch electrodes, and each of thetouch electrodes is connected with the signal lines.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided atouch sensor integrated display device including gate lines formed on asubstrate, a gate insulating film formed on a front surface of thesubstrate on which the gate lines are formed, data lines formed on thegate insulating film and crossing the gate lines, signal lines formed tobe spaced apart from the data lines and formed to be parallel to thedata lines, a thin film transistor (TFT) formed on the gate insulatingfilm and having a source electrode connected with the data line, a pixelelectrode formed on the gate insulating film, connected with a drainelectrode of the TFT, and formed at an intersection of the gate line andthe data line, an interlayer insulating film formed on the gateinsulating film on which the data line, the TFT and the pixel electrodehave been formed, and a common electrode formed on the interlayerinsulating film and connected with the signal lines through contactholes formed in the interlayer insulating film, wherein the commonelectrode includes two or more touch electrodes, and each of the touchelectrodes is connected with the signal lines.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided atouch sensor integrated display device including gate lines and datalines crossing each other to form pixel areas on a substrate, aplurality of pixel electrodes formed at the pixel areas, a commonelectrode formed to overlap the plurality of pixel electrodes with aninsulating film interposed between the common electrode and the pixelelectrodes, and including two or more touch electrodes, and one or moresignal lines connected with the touch electrodes, respectively, andoverlapping the data lines.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided atouch sensor integrated display device including gate lines formed on asubstrate, a gate insulating film formed on a front surface of thesubstrate on which the gate lines are formed, data lines formed on thegate insulating film and crossing the gate lines, a thin film transistor(TFT) formed on the gate insulating film and having a source electrodeconnected with the data line, a pixel electrode formed on the gateinsulating film, connected with a drain electrode of the TFT, and formedat an intersection of the gate line and the data line, an interlayerinsulating film formed on the gate insulating film on which the dataline, the TFT and the pixel electrode have been formed, signal linesformed on the interlayer insulating film and overlapping the data lines,a passivation film formed on the interlayer insulating film on which thesignal lines are formed, and a common electrode formed on thepassivation layer and connected with the signal lines through via holesformed in the passivation layer, wherein the common electrode includestwo or more touch electrodes, and each of the touch electrodes isconnected with the signal lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the embodiments of the invention and are incorporatedin and constitute a part of this application, illustrate the embodimentsof the invention and together with the description serve to explain theprinciple of the embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating a touch sensor integrateddisplay device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a display panelas shown on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view schematically illustrating a relationship among acommon electrode (touch electrodes), pixel electrodes, and circuitwiring patterns in a touch sensor integrated display device according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating an example of an arrangementrelationship between a common electrode (touch electrodes) and pixelelectrodes in a touch sensor integrated display device according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a view illustrating an example of a connection relationshipbetween a common electrode (touch electrodes) and signal lines in atouch sensor integrated display device according to a first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a view illustrating another example of a connectionrelationship between a common electrode (touch electrodes) and signallines in the touch sensor integrated display device according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a view illustrating an example of a connection relationshipbetween a common electrode (touch electrodes) and signal lines in atouch sensor integrated display device according to a second embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a view illustrating another example of a connectionrelationship between a common electrode (touch electrodes) and signallines in the touch sensor integrated display device according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is an enlarged plan view illustrating part of the touch sensorintegrated display device according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7B is a cross sectional view taken along a line I-I′ and a lineII-II′ illustrated in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8A is an enlarged plan view illustrating part of the touch sensorintegrated display device according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8B is a cross sectional view taken along a line III-III′ and a lineIV-IV′ illustrated in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9A is a view illustrating an example of a connection relationshipbetween a common electrode (touch electrodes) and signal lines in atouch sensor integrated display device according to a third embodimentof the present invention; FIG. 9B is a view illustrating another exampleof a connection relationship between a common electrode (touchelectrodes) and signal lines in the touch sensor integrated displaydevice according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10A is an enlarged plan view illustrating part of a touch sensorintegrated display device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10B is a cross sectional view taken along a line V-V′ and a lineVI-VI′ illustrated in FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11 is a graphical view illustrating transmittance losses measuredfor each resolution depending on whether data lines overlap signallines; and

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating 60 Hz time division driving in a touchsensor integrated display device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

A touch sensor integrated display device on according to an embodimentof the present invention will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating a touch sensorintegrated display device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating adisplay panel of the display device illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is aview schematically illustrating a relationship among a common electrode(touch electrodes), pixel electrodes, and circuit wiring patterns in atouch sensor integrated display device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating anexample of an arrangement relationship between a common electrode (touchelectrodes) and pixel electrodes in a touch sensor integrated displaydevice according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a touch sensor integrated liquid crystal display deviceaccording to an embodiment will be described in greater detail.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a touch sensor integrated liquidcrystal display device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention includes a liquid crystal panel LCP, a host controller 100, atiming controller 101, a data driving unit 102, a gate driving unit 103,a power supply unit 105, and a touch recognition processor 107.

The liquid crystal panel LCP includes a color filter array CFA and athin film transistor array TFTA and a liquid crystal layer disposedbetween the color filter array CFA and the thin film transistor arrayTFTA.

The thin film transistor array TFTA includes a plurality of gate linesG1, G2, G3, . . . Gm1 and Gm arranged in parallel to each other in afirst direction (for example, an x direction) on a first substrate SUBS1, data lines D1, D2, D3, . . . Dn−1 and Dn arranged in parallel to eachother in a second direction (for example, a y direction) andintersecting the plurality of gate lines G1, G2, G3, . . . Gm1 and Gm,thin film transistors TFT formed at areas where the gate lines G1, G2,G3, . . . Gm1 and Gm and the data lines D1, D2, D3, . . . Dn−1 and Dnintersect each other, a plurality of pixel electrodes P for chargingdata voltages to liquid crystal cells, and a common electrode oppositeto the plurality of pixel electrodes P.

The color filter array CFA includes black matrixes and color filtersformed on a second substrate SUBS2. Polarizers POL1 and POL2 arerespectively attached on the first substrate SUBS1 and the secondsubstrate SUBS2 of the liquid crystal panel LCP, and an alignment filmfor setting a pretilt angle of liquid crystal molecules is formed on aninner surface of the panel LCP, which contacts the liquid crystal.Column spacers for maintaining cell gaps of liquid crystal cells may beformed between the first substrate SUBS1 and the second substrate SUBS2of the liquid crystal panel LCP.

The common electrode COM is formed on the second substrate SUBS2 in avertical electric field drive type, such as a twisted-nematic (TN) modeand vertical-alignment (VA) mode, and formed together with the pixelelectrodes P on the first substrate SUBS1 in a horizontal electric fielddrive type, such as an in-plane-switching (IPS) mode andfringe-field-switching (FFS) mode. The horizontal electric field drivetype will be described below.

The common electrode includes a plurality of touch electrodes wherein asize of one touch electrode corresponds to a size of a combination ofmore than several or several tens of pixel electrodes. The pixelelectrodes P are arranged at intersections between the plurality of gatelines G1 to Gm and data lines D1 to Dn. For convenience of description,FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate that the common electrode COM is divided intototal nine touch electrodes C11, C12, C13, C21, C22, C23, C31, C32 andC33 which are arranged in a three (width of the common electrode) bythree (length of common electrode) arrangement. As shown in FIGS. 3 and4, each of the touch electrodes has a size corresponding to a size of acombination of four pixel electrodes arranged in a two (width of onetouch electrode) by two (length of one touch electrode) arrangement. Thefour pixel electrodes shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 include totally pixelelectrodes P11, P12, P21, P22; P13, P14, P23, P24; P15, P16, P25, P26;P31, P32, P41, P42; P33, P34, P43, P44; P35, P36, P45, P46; P51, P52,P61, P62; P53, P54, P63, P64; P55, P56, P65 and P66. As mentioned above,the embodiment described in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4 is only anexample for convenience of description, and the number of the electrodesis not limited thereto.

The divided touch electrodes C11, C12, C13, C21, C22, C23, C31, C32 andC33 constituting the common electrode are connected to each other by aplurality of signal lines TX11, TX12, TX13, TX21, TX22, TX23, TX31, TX32and TX33 in the form of one column unit or one row unit, so that theelectrodes may function as constituent elements not only for realizingimage display but also for a touch sensor.

FIG. 5A is a view illustrating an example of a connection relationshipbetween a common electrode (touch electrodes) and signal lines in atouch sensor integrated display device according to the first embodimentof the present invention, and FIG. 5B is a view illustrating anotherexample of a connection relationship between a common electrode (touchelectrodes) and signal lines in the touch sensor integrated displaydevice according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 5A, a first row has three touch electrodes C11,C12 and C13, which are respectively connected to first to third signallines TX11, TX12 and TX13 arranged along the first row. A second row hasthree touch electrodes C21, C22 and C23 which are respectively connectedto fourth to sixth signal lines TX21, TX22 and TX23 arranged along thesecond row. A third row has three touch electrodes C31, C32 and C33which are respectively connected to first to third signal lines TX31,TX32 and TX33 arranged along the third row. As mentioned above, sinceeach of the touch electrodes arranged along row directions is connectedwith one signal line arranged along the corresponding row direction,although multi-touches occur on the display device, the touched spotscan be exactly detected.

Similar to FIG. 5A, with reference to FIG. 5B, the first row has threetouch electrodes C11, C12 and C13 which are respectively connected tofirst to third signal lines TX11, TX12 and TX13 arranged along the firstrow. However, there is a difference between FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B in thatin FIG. 5b , each of the first to third signal lines TX11, TX12 and TX13is branched into three parts and the three branched signal lines formingeach signal line are all connected to one touch electrode. Theconnection relationship between the second row's touch electrodes C21,C22 and C23 and the fourth to sixth signal lines TX21, TX22 and TX23,and the connection relationship between the third row's touch electrodesC31, C32 and C33 and the third signal lines TX31, TX32 and TX33 are alsothe same as those between the first row's touch electrodes and the firstto third signal lines. Therefore, further descriptions for those areomitted.

FIG. 6A is a view illustrating an example of a connection relationshipbetween a common electrode, which includes touch electrodes, and signallines in a touch sensor integrated display device according to a secondembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a view illustratinganother example of a connection relationship between a common electrode,which includes touch electrodes, and signal lines in the touch sensorintegrated display device according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are respectively different from FIGS. 5A and 5B in thatthe embodiments described in connection with FIGS. 6A and 6B have touchelectrodes connected with the signal lines in the form of a column unit,whereas the touch electrodes described in connection with FIGS. 5A and5B are connected with the signal lines in the form of a row unit.

With reference to FIG. 6A, the first column has three touch electrodesC11, C21 and C31 which are respectively connected to first to thirdsignal lines TY11, TY12 and TY13 arranged along the first column. Thesecond column has three touch electrodes C12, C22 and C32 which arerespectively connected to fourth to sixth signal lines TY21, TY22 andTY23 arranged along the second column. The third column has three touchelectrodes C13, C23 and C33 which are respectively connected to first tothird signal lines TY31, TY32 and TY33 arranged along the third column.As mentioned above, since each of the touch electrodes arranged alongcolumn direction is connected with one signal line arranged along thecorresponding column direction, although multi-touches occur on thedisplay device, the touched spots can be exactly detected.

Similar to FIG. 6A, with reference to FIG. 6B, the first column hasthree touch electrodes C11, C21 and C31 which are respectively connectedto first to third signal lines TY11, TY12 and TY13 arranged along thefirst column. However, there is a difference between FIG. 6A and FIG. 6Bin that in FIG. 6B, each of the first to third signal lines TY11, TY12and TY13 is branched into three parts and the three branched signallines forming each signal line are all connected to one touch electrode.The connection relationship between the second column's touch electrodesC12, C22 and C32 and the fourth to sixth signal lines TY21, TY22 andTY23, and the connection relationship between the third column's touchelectrodes C13 C23 and C33 and the third signal lines TY31, TY32 andTY33 are also the same as those between the first column's touchelectrodes and the first to third signal lines. Therefore, furtherdescriptions for those are omitted.

As described above, in the embodiments described in connection withFIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B, the touch electrodes having three rows andthree columns are used. However, the embodiments are not limitedthereto. For example, the number of the touch electrodes and the numberof the signal lines connected with the touch electrodes can be properlychanged according to conditions, such as usage of the display device.Further, each touch electrode can be connected with at least one of thesignal lines. According to an embodiment, when several signal lines areconnected to one touch electrode, ends of those signal lines are allcoupled into one unit to output and input the same or substantially thesame signal into and from each touch electrode.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged plan view illustrating part of the touch sensorintegrated display device according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 7B is a cross sectional view taken along aline I-I′ and a line II-II′ illustrated in FIG. 7A. As shown in FIGS. 7Aand 7B, portions corresponding to the pixel electrodes P11 and P12 amongthe touch electrodes C11 of the common electrode COM of FIG. 3 areillustrated as examples, wherein the signal lines are connected to thetouch electrodes in the direction of rows.

With reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the touch sensor integrated displaydevice according to the first embodiment of the present inventionincludes a gate line G1 formed on the first substrate SUBS1, a gateelectrode G extending from the gate line G1, and a first signal lineTX11 spaced apart from and paralleled to the gate line G1.

The touch sensor integrated display device further includes a gateinsulating film GI, which is formed on the gate line G1 having the gateelectrode G and the first signal line TX11 on the substrate SUBS1, and asemiconductor pattern A which is formed on the gate insulating film GIto overlap part of the gate electrode G. The semiconductor pattern Aincludes an active area of a thin film transistor TFT which will bedescribed later.

Further, the touch sensor integrated display device includes data linesD1 and D2 intersecting the gate line G1 via the gate insulating film GI,a source electrode S extending from the data lines D1 and D2, thin filmtransistors TFF each having a drain electrode D opposite to the sourceelectrode S, and pixel electrodes P11 and P12 which are formed atintersections between the gate line G1 and the data lines D1 and D2 andrespectively connected with the drain electrodes of the thin filmtransistors TFT.

The touch sensor integrated display device includes an interlayerinsulating film INS formed on a top surface of gate insulating film GIon which the data lines D1 and D2, the transistors TFT and the pixelelectrodes P11 and P12 are formed, and a common electrode (touchelectrodes) C11 formed on the interlayer insulating film INS. The commonelectrode (touch electrodes) C11 is connected to the first signal lineTX11 via a contact hole CH penetrating both the gate insulating film andthe interlayer insulating film.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged plan view illustrating part of the touch sensorintegrated display device according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 8B is a cross sectional view taken along aline III-III′ and a line IV-IV′ illustrated in FIG. 8A. As shown inFIGS. 8A and 8B, portions corresponding to the pixel electrodes P11 andP12 among the touch electrodes C11 of the common electrode COM of FIG. 3are illustrated as examples, wherein the signal lines are connected tothe touch electrodes in the direction of columns.

With reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the touch sensor integrated displaydevice according to the second embodiment of the present inventionincludes a gate line G1 formed on the first substrate SUBS1 and a gateelectrode G extending from the gate line G1.

The touch sensor integrated display device includes a gate insulatingfilm GI formed on the substrate SUBS1 on which the gate line G1 havingthe gate electrode G is formed, and a semiconductor pattern A which isformed on the gate insulating film GI to overlap part of the gateelectrode G. The semiconductor pattern A includes an active area of thinfilm transistors TFT which will be described later.

The touch sensor integrated display device further includes data linesD1 and D2 intersecting the gate line G1 via the gate insulating film GI,a source electrode S extending from data lines D1 and D2, thin filmtransistors TFF each having a drain electrode opposite to the sourceelectrode S, a first signal line TY11 and a second signal line TY12which are all spaced apart from and paralleled to the data lines D1 andD2, and pixel electrodes P11 and P12 which are formed at intersectionsbetween the gate line G1 and the data lines D1 and D1 and connected withthe drain electrodes of the thin film transistors TFT.

The touch sensor integrated display device further includes aninterlayer insulating film INS formed on a top surface of the gateinsulating film GI on which the data lines D1 and D2, the transistorsTFT and the pixel electrodes P11 and P12 are formed, and a commonelectrode (touch electrodes) C11 formed on the interlayer insulatingfilm INS. The common electrode (touch electrodes) C11 is connected tothe second signal line TY12 via a contact hole CH penetrating theinterlayer insulating film.

FIG. 9A is a view illustrating an example of a connection relationshipbetween a common electrode (touch electrodes) and signal lines in atouch sensor integrated display device according to a third embodimentof the present invention, and FIG. 9B is a view illustrating anotherexample of a connection relationship between a common electrode (touchelectrodes) and signal lines in the touch sensor integrated displaydevice according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 9A, the first column has three touch electrodesC11, C21 and C31 which are respectively connected to first to thirdsignal lines TY11, TY12 and TY13 arranged along the first column. Thesecond column has three touch electrodes C12, C22 and C32 which arerespectively connected to fourth to sixth signal lines TY21, TY22 andTY23 arranged along the second column. The third column has three touchelectrodes C13, C23 and C33 which are respectively connected to first tothird signal lines TY31, TY32 and TY33 arranged along the third column.As mentioned above, since each of the touch electrodes arranged alongthe column direction is connected with one signal line arranged alongthe corresponding column direction, although multi-touches occur, thetouched spots can be exactly detected.

With reference to FIG. 9B, the first column has three touch electrodesC11, C21 and C31 which are respectively connected to first to thirdsignal lines TY11, TY12 and TY13 arranged along the first column.However, there is a difference between FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B in that inFIG. 6b , each of the first to third signal lines TY11, TY12 and TY13 isbranched into three parts and the three branched signal lines formingeach signal line are all connected to one touch electrode. Theconnection relationship between the second column's touch electrodesC12, C22 and C32 and the fourth to sixth signal lines TY21, TY22 andTY23, and the connection relationship between the third column's touchelectrodes C13, C23 and C33 and the third signal lines TY31, TY32 andTY33 are also the same as those between the first column's touchelectrodes and the first to third signal lines. Therefore, furtherdescriptions for those are omitted.

As described above, in the embodiments described in connection withFIGS. 9A and 9B, the touch electrodes having three rows and threecolumns are used. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto. Forexample, the number of the touch electrodes and the number of the signallines connected with the touch electrodes can be properly changedaccording to conditions, such as usage of the display device. Further,each touch electrode can be connected with at least one of signal lines.According to an embodiment, when several signal lines are connected toone touch electrode, the ends of those signal lines are all coupled intoone unit to output and input the same or substantially the same signalto and from each touch electrode.

FIG. 10A is an enlarged plan view illustrating part of the touch sensorintegrated display device according to the third embodiment of thepresent invention and FIG. 10B is a cross sectional view taken along aline V-V′ and a line VI-VI′ illustrated in FIG. 10A. As shown in FIGS.10A and 10B, portions corresponding to the pixel electrodes P11 and P12among the touch electrodes C11 of the common electrode COM of FIG. 3 areillustrated as examples, wherein the signal lines are connected to thetouch electrodes in the direction of column.

With reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the touch sensor integrated displaydevice according to the third embodiment of the present inventionincludes a gate line G1 formed on the first substrate SUBS1, and a gateelectrode G extending from the gate line G1.

The touch sensor integrated display device includes a gate insulatingfilm GI formed on the substrate SUBS1 on which the gate line G1 havingthe gate electrode G is formed, and a semiconductor pattern A which isformed on the gate insulating film GI to overlap part of the gateelectrode G. The semiconductor pattern A includes an active area of thinfilm transistors TFT which will be described later.

The touch sensor integrated display device further includes data linesD1 and D2 intersecting the gate line G1 via the gate insulating film GI,a source electrode S extending from the data lines D1 and D2, thin filmtransistors TFF each having a drain electrode opposite to the sourceelectrode S, and pixel electrodes P11 and P12 which are formed atintersections between the gate line G1 and the data line D1 and D2, andconnected with the drain electrodes of the thin film transistors TFT.

The touch sensor integrated display device further includes aninterlayer insulating film INS formed on a top surface of gateinsulating film GI on which the data lines D1 and D2, transistors TFTand pixel electrodes P11 and P12 are formed, and a first signal lineTY11 and a second signal line TY12 overlapping the data lines D1 and D2on the interlayer insulating film INS.

The first signal line TY11 and the second signal line TY12 are arrangedin parallel to and overlap the data lines D1 and D2. The first signalline TY11 and the second signal line TY12 are made of lower-resistantmetals or alloys thereof, such as aluminum (Al), aluminum-Neodymium(AlNd), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), molybdenum-titanium (MoTi),chromium (Cr), and so forth.

Accordingly, the first signal line TY11 and the second signal line TY12are arranged in parallel to and overlap the data lines D1 and D2. Assuch, since the first and second signal lines TY11 and TY12 are formedin a non-display area occupied by the data lines D1 and D2, a decreasein an aperture ratio of the display panel, which would occur if thelines TY11 and TY12 occupied the display area, can be prevented.

The touch sensor integrated display device includes a passivation filmPL formed on a top surface of the interlayer insulating film INS onwhich the first signal line TY11 and the second signal line TY12 areformed, and a common electrode C11 formed on the passivation film PL.The common electrode (touch electrodes) C11 is connected to the secondsignal line TY12 via a contact hole CH penetrating the passivation film.

FIG. 11 is a graphical view illustrating transmittance losses measuredfor each resolution depending on whether the data lines overlap thesignal lines. A display device according to an embodiment (referred toas “Example” in the drawing) is formed by overlapping the data lines andthe signal lines as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, and a comparativedisplay device (referred to as “Comparative Example” in the drawing)does not have the data lines overlap the signal lines.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, for the same resolution of 230 PPI,Comparative Example indicates a transmittance loss of 5.1% and Exampleindicates a transmittance loss of 0.7%. For the same resolution of 266PPI, Comparative Example indicates a transmittance loss of 9.0% andExample indicates a transmittance loss of 0.5%. For the same resolutionof 330 PPI, Comparative Example indicates a transmittance loss of 17.1%and Example indicates a transmittance loss of 4.4%.

Accordingly, it can be seen from the results shown in FIG. 11 that thedisplay device according to the embodiments of the present invention mayreduce transmittance losses.

Hereinafter, the operation of a touch sensor integrated display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.According to an embodiment, a 60 Hz time division driving process isused for the operation.

The touch sensor integrated liquid crystal display device according tothe embodiment of the present invention is driven by the time division.As illustrated in FIG. 12, one period for the time division drivingincludes display drive sections and touch drive sections. When thedisplay driving is turned on, the touch driving is turned off and viceversa to minimize signal interferences between the display drivingoperation and the touch driving operation. For example, in the case ofthe 60 Hz time division driving, one period has a time interval of 16.7ms which is divided into two sections, one for the display drive section(about 10 ms), and the other for the touch drive section (about 6.7 ms).

In the display drive sections, the host controller 100 controls thepower supply unit 105 to simultaneously supply a common voltage Vcom to,for example, the common electrode COM including the touch electrodes C11to C33 through, for example, the signal lines TY11 to TY13 illustratedin FIG. 5A. In synchronization with gate pulses sequentially output fromthe gate driving unit 103, The data driving unit 102 supplies pixelvoltages Data corresponding to digital video data to the pixelelectrodes P11 to P66 through the data lines D1 to Dn. As a result, anelectric field is generated in the liquid crystal layers by the commonvoltage Vcom and the pixel voltage Data which are respectively appliedto the common electrode COM and the pixel electrodes P11 to P66. Thegenerated electric field can change a state of the liquid crystal layerto thus perform a display operation. Voltage values for initial staticcapacitances of the touch electrodes C11 to C13 are measured and stored,respectively, by a touch recognition processor 107 which is connected toa plurality of touch electrodes C11 to C13 through signal lines TX11 toTX33, respectively.

In a touch drive section, the host controller 100 controls the powersupply unit 105 to sequentially supply touch drive voltages Vtsp to thetouch electrodes C11 to C33 constituting the common electrode COMthrough, for example, the signal lines TY11 to TY33 illustrated in FIGS.5A and 5B. The touch recognition processor 107 connected to a pluralityof touch electrodes C11 to C33 differentially amplifies the storedvoltage values of the initial static capacitances for the touchelectrodes C11 to C33 and the static capacitance voltage Vd measured inthe touch drive section and converts the amplified resultant values intodigital data. Using a touch recognition algorithm, the touch recognitionprocessor 107 determines touch spots generated by the touch operationbased on differences between the initial static capacitances and thetouch static capacitances and outputs touch coordinate data indicatingthe touched spots.

In the above touch sensor integrated liquid crystal display device whichuses the time division drive operation, during the touch drive section,the display drive operation is off and stops sending signals to the gatelines GL and the data lines DL, and during the display drive section,the touch drive operation is off and stops supplying the common voltageVcom.

The touch sensor integrated display device according to the embodimentsof the present invention can reduce thickness and improve durability ofthe device since the touch sensor for recognizing the touch operationcan be also used as one constituent element of the display device.

Further, the touch sensor integrated display device according to theembodiments of the present invention described above can reduce thenumber of the signal lines so that a multi-touch can be recognized by arelatively simple circuit wiring structure since it is not required toconstitute the touch driving lines and the touch sensing lines forrecognizing the touch operation.

The touch sensor integrated display device according to the embodimentsof the present invention can further increase the level of the staticcapacitance compared to the mutual static capacitance type, thusimproving the precision of the multi-touch recognition, since it ispossible to prevent noise caused by the parasitic static capacitance.

The touch sensor integrated display device according to the embodimentsof the present invention can improve the aperture ratio by having thesignal lines for recognizing the touch operation overlap the data lines.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present invention. The presentteaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thedescription of the foregoing embodiments is intended to be illustrative,and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives,modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in theart. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described herein as performing the recited function andnot only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A touch sensitive display device, comprising: aplurality of touch electrodes, including first, second, third, andfourth touch electrodes; a plurality of signal lines, including first,second, third, and fourth signal lines; and a plurality of contactparts, including first, second, third, and fourth contact parts, whereinthe plurality of touch electrodes are disposed in a matrix form, whereineach of the first and second signal lines overlaps with the first andsecond touch electrodes, and each of the third and fourth signal linesoverlaps with the third and fourth touch electrodes, wherein the firstcontact part is electrically connected to the first touch electrode andthe first signal line, the second contact part is electrically connectedto the second touch electrode and the second signal line, the thirdcontact part is electrically connected to the third touch electrode andthe third signal line, and the fourth contact part is electricallyconnected to the fourth touch electrode and the fourth signal line, andwherein a minimum distance between the first contact part and the secondcontact part is identical to a minimum distance between the thirdcontact part and the fourth contact part.
 15. The touch sensitivedisplay device of claim 14, wherein the first signal line is notelectrically connected to the second touch electrode, and the secondsignal line is not electrically connected to the first touch electrode.16. The touch sensitive display device of claim 14, wherein the thirdsignal line is not connected to the fourth touch electrode, and thefourth signal line is not connected to the third touch electrode. 17.The touch sensitive display device of claim 14, wherein the plurality ofsignal lines are electrically insulated from each other.
 18. The touchsensitive display device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of signallines extend along a row direction or a column direction.
 19. The touchsensitive display device of claim 14, further comprising an insulatinglayer between the plurality of touch electrodes and the plurality ofsignal lines.
 20. The touch sensitive display device of claim 14,further comprising a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data linescrossing the plurality of gate lines, and a plurality of pixelelectrodes disposed in regions defined by crossings of the plurality ofgate lines and the plurality of data lines, wherein each of theplurality of touch electrodes has a size corresponding to a size of twoor more of the pixel electrodes.
 21. The touch sensitive display deviceof claim 14, further comprising a touch circuit electrically connectedto the plurality of touch electrodes through the plurality of signallines, wherein the touch circuit is configured to apply, during a firstmode, a first signal to the plurality of touch electrodes through theplurality of signal lines, and wherein the touch circuit is furtherconfigured to apply, during a second mode, a second signal to theplurality of touch electrodes through the plurality of signal lines fordisplaying an image on the touch sensitive display device.
 22. The touchsensitive display device of claim 21, wherein the touch circuit includesa touch recognition processor, and the plurality of signal lines areelectrically connected to the touch recognition processor.
 23. The touchsensitive display device of claim 21, wherein the touch circuit isfurther configured to determine one or more touch spots of the pluralityof touch electrodes based on initial capacitances of the plurality oftouch electrodes and measured capacitances of the plurality of touchelectrodes.
 24. A touch sensitive display device, comprising: aplurality of gate lines; a plurality of data lines crossing theplurality of gate lines; a plurality of touch electrodes, includingfirst, second, third, and fourth touch electrodes, disposed adjacent toeach other in rows and columns; a plurality of signal lines, including afirst signal line connected to the first touch electrode at a firstposition, a second signal line connected to the second touch electrodeat a second position, a third signal line connected to the third touchelectrode at a third position, and a fourth signal line connected to thefourth touch electrode at a fourth position, wherein each of the firstand second signal lines overlaps with the first and second touchelectrodes, and each of the third and fourth signal lines overlaps withthe third and fourth touch electrodes, and wherein a minimum distancebetween the first position and the third position is identical to aminimum distance between the second position and the fourth position, ora minimum distance between the first position and the second position isidentical to a minimum distance between the third position and thefourth position.
 25. The touch sensitive display device of claim 24,wherein the plurality of signal lines are electrically insulated fromeach other in an area in which the plurality of touch electrodes aredisposed.
 26. The touch sensitive display device of claim 24, whereinthe plurality of signal lines extend along a row direction or a columndirection.
 27. The touch sensitive display device of claim 24, furthercomprising an insulating layer between the plurality of touch electrodesand the plurality of signal lines.
 28. The touch sensitive displaydevice of claim 24, wherein the first signal line overlaps with thesecond touch electrode without being connected to the second touchelectrode, and the second signal line overlaps with the first touchelectrode without being connected to the first touch electrode.
 29. Thetouch sensitive display device of claim 28, wherein the third signalline overlaps with the fourth touch electrode without being connected tothe fourth touch electrode, and the fourth signal line overlaps with thethird touch electrode without being connected to the third touchelectrode.
 30. The touch sensitive display device of claim 24, furthercomprising a plurality of pixel electrodes in regions defined bycrossings of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of datalines, wherein each of the plurality of touch electrodes has a sizecorresponding to a size of two or more of the pixel electrodes.
 31. Thetouch sensitive display device of claim 24, further comprising a touchcircuit electrically connected to the plurality of touch electrodesthrough the plurality of signal lines, wherein the touch circuit isconfigured to apply, during a first mode, a first signal to theplurality of touch electrodes through the plurality of signal lines, andwherein the touch circuit is further configured to apply, during asecond mode, a second signal to the plurality of touch electrodesthrough the plurality of signal lines for displaying an image on thetouch sensitive display device.
 32. The touch sensitive display deviceof claim 31, wherein the touch circuit includes a touch recognitionprocessor, and the plurality of signal lines are electrically connectedto the touch recognition processor.
 33. The touch sensitive displaydevice of claim 31, wherein the touch circuit is further configured todetermine one or more touch spots of the plurality of touch electrodesbased on initial capacitances of the plurality of touch electrodes andmeasured capacitances of the plurality of touch electrodes.